La lunga strada di sabbia: Paolo Di Paolo - Pier Paolo Pasolini

Paolo Di Paolo and Pier Paolo Pasolini are assigned to report on the Italian Summer Holidays in 1959 by Arturo Tofanelli, editor in chief of the monthly Successo and the weekly Tempo. They have different visions of Italy, with Pasolini seeking a lost world of literary ghosts and Di Paolo looking for a future-looking country. Despite this, they develop a complex, delicate partnership that will be consolidated in mutual respect and trust.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 13 November 2023
Publisher: teNeues Publishing UK Ltd

The captivating photographic narrative by Paolo Di Paolo, which vividly captures and weaves together the experiences of Italians on their summer vacations in 1959, spanning from the Tyrrhenian to the Adriatic Sea; from Ventimiglia to Trieste (from the western to the eastern border). In 1959, Paolo Di Paolo, a 34-year-old photographer, found himself collaborating with the esteemed cultural weekly magazine Il Mondo, under the direction of Mario Pannunzio, as well as the widely circulated magazine Tempo. At the same time, Pier Paolo Pasolini, a promising 37-year-old writer, had already made his mark with notable works such as The Best of Youth, The Street Kids, and A Violent Life. While Pasolini had not yet ventured into the realm of film direction, his literary prowess was already recognized. In the vibrant atmosphere of Italy, the "economic miracle" had just commenced, and the newspapers sought to provide a respite from the monotony and apprehension caused by war, emigration, and poverty. Recognizing the need for escapism, Arturo Tofanelli, the editor in chief of the monthly Successo and the weekly Tempo, entrusted the two young men, Di Paolo and Pasolini, who had never met before, with the task of conducting a report on the Italian Summer Holidays. This report would be published in three issues by Successo magazine, spanning July, August, and September 1959. With a shared passion for exploration, Di Paolo and Pasolini embarked on their journey together, departing from Ventimiglia with the ambitious plan of traversing the picturesque coasts of Italy, all the way down to Trieste. However, their perspectives diverged significantly. "Pasolini was embarked on a quest to discover a lost world of literary ghosts, yearning for an Italy that had long since vanished," reminisces Di Paolo. "In contrast, I had a vision for an Italy that was forward-looking, eager to embrace the future." The title "The Long Road of Sand" emerged from this divergence, symbolizing the arduous journey undertaken by Italians in search of well-being and leisure after the tumultuous years of war. A complex and delicate partnership was thus formed between Pasolini and Di Paolo, as they embarked on the first stage of their journey together. While their collaboration would only extend to the initial leg of their adventure, the experience they shared would later solidify into a profound respect and understanding between the two artists.

Dimension: 265 x 305 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783961714889